D. W. KARRAKER, lawyer, Jonesboro, was born in Union County, Ill., February 12, 1854. He is a grandson of Daniel Karraker, who came to Union County from North Carolina, where he was married to Rachel Blackwelder, who bore him nine children, who lived to the ages of maturity. Their names are Paul, Peggie, Jacob, Paulina, Nathan, Dennis, Bazil, Wilson and Sally. The father of our subject, Jacob Karraker, was born in this county in 1822, and is engaged in farming. He married Mary Peeler, who was born in Union County in 1824. She is a daughter of Christian Peeler, who emigrated to Union County in an early day. Parents of our subject had ten children — Rachel, Anna (deceased), Malinda, William W., David W., Lucinda J. (deceased), Henry W., Julius (deceased), Jacob C. and Mary E. David W. received the benefits of the common schools of his native county, and was afterward a student at the A. M. College at Lexington, Ky. He began the study of law with Gov. John Dougherty in Jonesboro in the spring of 1876, and was admitted to the bar in June, 1878, at Mt. Vernon, Ill. He taught school in Union County for four terms. In December, 1876, he was elected Secretary of the Union County Fair Association; in April, 1877, he was elected Attorney for the city of Jonesboro. In November, 1877, at the age of twenty-three, he was elected County Superintendent of Schools, which office he filled till November, 1880, when he was elected State's Attorney, which office he now fills. He was married, June 19, 1881, in Jackson County, Ill., to Miss Cora L. Harreld, only daughter of Cyrus and Amelia (Tuttle) Harreld. She was born April 26, 1859, in Jackson County, Ill. Mr. Karraker is a strong Prohibitionist, and in politics is a Democrat.
Extracted 02 Apr 2017 by Norma Hass from 1883 History of Alexander, Union, and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part V, page 103.
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